The state’s Drought Task Force will meet at 9 a.m. Thursday to continue its discussion on Maine’s drought conditions.

Last month, the task force met for the first time since 2002 in response to the drought conditions throughout most of central and southern Maine.

This Aug. 3 photo shows brown grass near the Civil War Memorial on the Gardiner Common. Staff file photo by Joe Phelan

According to a press release from the Maine Emergency Management Agency, participating federal, state and industry representatives will discuss updated drought conditions, weather outlooks, stream and ground water levels and other issues, as well as the next steps in dealing with the drought.

The agenda said officials from the National Weather Service, U.S. Geological Survey and the Department of Environmental Protection would provide updates.

During the August meeting, state officials said they would begin an information campaign urging the public not to waste water, but water restrictions were not warranted despite the dry weather over the past several months.

It’s not just the lack of rain that is contributing to the dry conditions, MEMA director Bruce Fitzgerald said in August. Below-average snowfall last winter meant there wasn’t a lot of snow melt to recharge groundwater.

Meteorologist Tom Hawley, of the National Weather Service office in Gray, said most of the state had half of the normal snowfall, and the snow melted about four weeks earlier than usual. Hawley said he didn’t see any real changes in the outlook and that most of Maine would continue to be dry.

MEMA’s offices are at 45 Commerce Drive in Augusta.

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